Month: January 2021

As the Forum of European Muslim Youth and Student Organisations (FEMYSO) celebrates 25 years of uninterrupted service to young European Muslims and the wider European community, we take this opportunity to thank all those who were part of this journey since 1996.

25 years of bringing young people from across Europe together for a common goal which is contributing to build a more diverse, cohesive and vibrant Europe. 25 years of developing and empowering young people through our unparalleled capacity building initiatives. 25 years of advocating for the rights of Muslims and human rights. 25 years of working closely with partners from all backgrounds. 25 years of cooperation with key European and international institutions.

Reflecting on the history of FEMYSO, we must acknowledge the effort and passionate energy of all the young volunteers, Executive Committee, Board of Trustee, and staff members who served this organisation throughout the past 25 years. Without them we could not have achieved all the above.

To all our Member Organisations, partner organisations, and friends, we thank you for your trust and dedication towards FEMYSO.

In 2021 FEMYSO remains a strong network of over 30 member organisations across 20 European countries reaching thousands of young people. We remain committed to our vision of being the leading voice of European Muslim youth, developing and empowering them, and working to build a more diverse, cohesive and vibrant Europe.

In recognition of this anniversary, we will be organising activities throughout the year to recall the past success and plan for the future contributions for a more diverse, cohesive and vibrant Europe

With the continuous efforts and commitments of grassroots young Muslim activists in Belgium, a historical decision has been taken: from September 2021 onwards, religious symbols in higher education are authorised by the educational authority of Wallonia-Brussels. This historical development could not have come without young women advocating for their rights, and without a reminder of the fundamental values that we stand for in Europe.

FEMYSO congratulates the #HijabisFightBack activists, CCIB (Collective against Islamophobia in Belgium), la 5e vague and le Collectif les 100 diplômées: grassroots NGOs and movements who worked tirelessly to make education accessible for all. FEMYSO also congratulates the authorities who made a wise decision to ensure students their full freedom in what they want to wear at higher education. This is regardless of the inherently discriminatory and disproportionately Islamophobic decision of the Belgian Constitutional Court allowing schools to misuse the “neutrality of education” principle to wear off students wearing religious symbols. See our statement on this from July 2020 here, and the social campaign we did with a powerful video here.

Mr Abelrahman Rizk, President of FEMYSO noted: “As education is a key factor for young people’s flourishing, personal development and access to the job market, any barriers of systemic discrimination and institutional racism must be effectively identified and removed. When we talk about freedom of education equality, this must not have any exceptions.”

At FEMYSO, we will continue to empower young people across Europe to contribute to positive change and know their rights, while being proud of their identity.

Journalistic reference (French): https://www.rtbf.be/info/belgique/detail_les-signes-convictionnels-autorises-dans-l-enseignement-superieur-des-la-prochaine-rentree-academique?id=10675006

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Notes

1. FEMYSO (est. 1996) is a network organisation for 33 Muslim youth and student organisations across 20 European countries, and is the leading voice for European Muslim youth, developing and empowering them, and working to build a more diverse, cohesive and vibrant Europe.

2. For more information or requests please email media@femyso.org